Table of Contents
Who this is for: Minecraft fans curious about the discontinued AR game and mobile gaming enthusiasts interested in location-based experiences.
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What Was Minecraft Earth?
Minecraft Earth was an augmented reality (AR) mobile game developed by Mojang Studios that brought the beloved block-building experience into the real world. Launched in 2019, it allowed players to place virtual Minecraft structures and creatures directly onto their physical surroundings using their smartphone cameras.
How Minecraft Earth Worked
The game used your phone’s camera and GPS to overlay digital Minecraft elements onto real-world locations. Players could walk around their neighborhoods to collect resources called “tappables” – virtual items scattered throughout the map that corresponded to real-world locations.
Core Gameplay Features
- Build Plates: Small virtual plots where you could construct Minecraft creations in AR
- Adventures: Shared AR experiences where multiple players could explore mini-dungeons together
- Resource Collection: Gathering materials by walking to different real-world locations
- Mob Interaction: Encountering and collecting various Minecraft creatures in AR
Why It Ended
Despite initial excitement, Minecraft Earth faced several challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted its location-based gameplay, as people were encouraged to stay home. Additionally, the game struggled with technical limitations and user engagement compared to other AR games like Pokémon GO.
Mojang officially announced the game’s closure in January 2021, and servers shut down permanently in June 2021. The company cited the pandemic’s impact on outdoor gameplay and their desire to focus resources on other Minecraft projects.
While Minecraft Earth is no longer available, its innovative approach to AR gaming paved the way for future location-based experiences, and players can still enjoy the classic Minecraft experience through various other platforms and game modes.
TL;DR
Minecraft Earth was an AR mobile game that let players build and explore Minecraft in the real world using their phones, but it shut down in 2021 due to pandemic impacts and technical challenges.
